In contrast, John Cameron Mitchell set out to “honor” sex as a pastime for real people, much like art, music, or cuisine, in his second feature film, “Shortbus,” the 2006 film now rolling out a re-release restoration nationwide. “This prostitution is not profane it’s a sacred act that we give them.” “Actors are prostitutes because they’re asked to play other feelings,” Breillat exclusively told IndieWire. until 2000.īreillat’s later film, “Romance,” was announced as the first European film with non-simulated sex scenes in 1999, according to Breillat. While the lead actress Charlotte Alexandra was age 20 during production, the film wasn’t released in theaters in the U.S. Sex on film is nothing new, and yet unsimulated intercourse in non-pornographic films has been somewhat of a marvel.Ĭatherine Breillat‘s first film in 1976, “A Very Young Girl,” adapts her own controversial novel about a 14-year-old exploring her newfound sexuality.